Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Community members in San Juan, Texas, gathered on August 16, 2025, for the 7th Annual Backpack Giveaway hosted by the Shoot for the Stars Foundation in partnership with the Zambrano Law Firm. Held at Aylyn’s Event Center, the event provided between over 1000 backpacks filled with school supplies for local students in need. Initiated by Jorge Zambrano and supported by his brother, Attorney Jesse Zambrano, the giveaway has grown into a signature community event. Families, sponsors, and volunteers worked together to support education and help children prepare for the upcoming school year.
The Shoot for the Stars Foundation was founded by Jorge Zambrano about eight years ago with the mission of addressing educational needs in underserved communities. Since its creation, the foundation has led seven backpack giveaways. Jorge explained that the initiative stems from his belief in the power of education. “We believe that education transforms lives, and generates multi-generational prosperity for families,” he said. This belief continues to drive the foundation’s work and sustain its growth.
Planning the event requires about two weeks of preparation. Supplies must be purchased, delivered, and carefully packed into backpacks to ensure uniformity. The bags contain essentials such as notebooks, folders, pencils, erasers, colored pencils, and crayons—items meant to benefit students across all grade levels. Jorge emphasized the collaborative nature of the effort: “This is a team effort. It takes a team of volunteers and community members to get this done.”
Since its inception, the event has grown significantly, with hundreds of families attending each year. Demand often exceeds the available number of backpacks, a reflection of both need and community trust in the initiative. “Every year it seems to be getting bigger. It seems to me that more people are getting involved,” Jorge noted. For Jesse Zambrano, the giveaway is about more than supplies. “Education is the great equalizer in our society,” he explained. “We need to tell the little kids, the students in our community, we need to let them know that it can be done, that we can do it. Hopefully, with this, providing a backpack to each of these students, it’ll help them and motivate them as they get back to school.”
Jesse also highlighted how the initiative reflects his family’s values. “Anybody that knows me, that knows my family, that knows our journey, understands how important education has been for us in our lives, and how important getting ready for that first day of class is.”
The success of the event depends on community support. Staff from the Zambrano Law Firm volunteered alongside neighbors, sponsors, and family members. “No one can do this alone,” Jesse said. “We get this done with our volunteers… people that believe in the mission and in the vision that we have for this community.”
For the Zambrano brothers, the giveaway carries deep emotional meaning. Jorge described it as a great feeling. “It feels great to see all these people here. This is our way to give back to the community that has given us so much.” Jesse echoed this sentiment, saying, “Imagine the impact that it makes on these students, to know that there are people out there that care about them, to spend the time to do something like this for them… It’s about the community, and it’s about that impact to give them hope and motivation this school year.”
The 7th Annual Backpack Giveaway highlighted the power of collaboration and the enduring vision of the Zambrano brothers. Through the Shoot for the Stars Foundation and the Zambrano Law Firm, they continue to promote educational access and inspire students to succeed. Their efforts highlight how community-led initiatives, rooted in faith and shared values, can create lasting impact. The Zambranos’ dedication demonstrates how those who have been blessed can give back, fostering hope and building a stronger future for families and students alike.
